Material unloader



May 1, 1962 Filed June 16, 1958 M. J. MARTENS MATERIAL UNLOADER 8Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. M.J.MARTENS ATTORNEYS May 1, 1962 M. .1.MARTENS MATERIAL UNLOADER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1958 INVENTOR.M.JYMARTENS ATTORNEYS y 1962 M. .1. MARTENS 3,032,219

MATERIAL UNLOADER Filed June 16, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.M.J.MARTENS WWW ATTORNEYS y 1962 M. J. MARTENS 3,032,219

MATERIAL UNLOADER Filed June 16, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 45 l uo q) IllATTORNEYS y 1952 M. J. MARTENS 3,032,219

MATERIAL UNLOADER 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. M.J.MARTENS haw M ATTORNEYSy 1, 1962 M. J. MARTENS 3,032,219

MATERIAL UNLOADER Filed June 16, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

M.J.MARTENS @WQ/M ATTORNE S 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 16, 1958INVENTOR. M.J.MARTEN ATTORNEYS M. J. MARTENS MATERIAL UNLOADER May 1,1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 16, 1958 INVENTOR. M.J.MARTENS ATTQRNEYS United States Patent 3,032,219 MATERIAL UNLOADER Maurice J. Martens,East Moline, Ill., assignor to l )eere & Company, Moline, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Filed June 16, 1958, Ser. No. 742,326 Claims.(Cl. 214-519) This invention relates to a material unloading implementand more particularly to a material unloading type of implement which isnormally used to'unload material such as manure and which may be adaptedfor unloading of material such assilage, hay, or other type of feed.Still more particularly,'this invention may be considered as animprovement in a manure spreading type of implement so that by use of asimple type of attachment, the manure spreader may be converted to asilage or other type of material unloading implement.

Common to both a manure spreading type of implement and a silageunloading type of implement is'the use of an elongated materialcontainer having a floor conveyor therein which moves materialrearwardly in one instance as a manure spreader to a. group of heatersand widespread which discharges and spreads the material evenly on theground, and in the second case'to a transverse conveyor which will feedhay or silage to a feed box or other type of container normally used toreceive the material either for storage or for feeding to livestock. Inthe second instance, the heaters are also advantageous.- ly used so asto prevent clogging of the container and to feed the hay or silageevenly into the transverse conveyor. Therefore, common to both usagesare the container, the floor conveyor, and the beaters. The maindifference in the unloading of materials is that in one case manure isfed directly to the widespread whereas in the second case the materialis fed to the transverse conveyor.

It is the primary object of the present invention to incorporate in theuse of a conventional type manure spreader a series of attachments whichconvert the spreader into a forage or silage unloader.

It is also an object of the present invention to enlarge the capacity ofthe conventional type spreader, when used as a forage unloader byextending the wall portions of the container by means of quickattachable and detachable extensions which are mounted on and are rigidwith the walls of the container.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide withthe conventional type spreader a simple method of mounting a crossconveyor on the rear of the spreader which will receive material beingmoved rearwardly by the floor conveyor.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide panelmeans on a conventional type spreader which will block material whichwould normally be fed into the widespread portion of the spreader and tofurther provide panel means which will overlie the beater portion of thespreader so that material will not be thrown from the material containerby means of the heaters.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention isbetter understood from the following description as shown in theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a conventional type spreader.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the spreader being converted toa silage or similar type of unloader.

FIG. 3 is a front and side perspective of the implement as shown in FIG.2.

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FIG. 4 is a rear perspective of the front portion of the materialcontainer.

FIG. 5 is a rear and side perspective of a portion of the containershown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective of a portion of the container as it isbeing assembled or disassembled.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view looking forwardly into the beaterportion of the unloader.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view looking rearwardly into the rearsection of the material unloader.

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view looking downwardly into the widespreadand feeder portion of the material unloader.

' FIG. 10 is a side perspective view looking into the lower part of therear portion of the material unloader.

FIG. 11 'is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along theline 11-11 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view showing a joint of the container.

FIG. 13 is a front and side perspective view of the rear portion of thematerial container and the transverse conveyor with the latter beingdisengaged from the coritainer.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view looking down into the rear and sideportion of the container and a portion of the transverse conveyor justprior to its being mounted in operative position.

FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view looking into the drive mechanism forthe conveyor with parts being removed for clarity purposes.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 with the drive housing and otherdrive mechanism being shown.

FIG. 17 is a front and side perspective view of the drive mechanism andits relative position in regard to the conveyor and material container.

The spreader chosen for purposes of illustration here is of thetwo-wheel type normally drawn behind a tractor. The spreader vehicle ormachine comprises an elongated material containing body 10 having rightand left hand upright side walls 11, 12, a horizontal floor 13 and atransverse upright front wall 14. The rear end of the body is left opento permit material discharge.

Here as elsewhere in the description, the expressions right hand andleft hand are used with reference to the position of an observerstanding behind the spreader and looking forward.

The front end of the body 10 is equipped with a forwardly extendingdraft tongue 20 having a clevis 21 by means of which the implement maybe connected to and drawn by an agricultural tractor, as isconventional.

The side walls 11, 12 respectively have rearward portions 22, 23 thatextend rearwardly of the terminal edge of the floor 13. These rearwardextensions 22, 23 are utilized as supporting means for vertically spacedheaters 24 and a transverse widespread 25 which is spacedly rearward ofthe heaters 24.

The spreader or material unloader is loaded with manure or othermaterial to be distributed and the load is advanced rearwardly inincrements by feeding mechanism comprising a floor conveyor 30 made upof a pair of longitudinal running endless chains 31, 32 cross connectedby a plurality of transverse longitudinally spaced slats 33. This apronor conveyor 30 is advanced so that its upper run and the slats thereonmove rearwardly over the upper surface of the floor 13, the lower runreturning below the floor 13. Other characteristics of the spreader area transverse axle structure 35 on which is mounted transversely spacedright and left hand transport wheels 36, 37 respectively.

The side walls 11, 12 have upper rolled edges 40, 41 respectively whichoffer longitudinal rigidity to the side walls. Extending rearwardly andupwardly from the rear ends of the rolled edges 40, 41 is a transversearch member 42 which has depending leg portions 43, 44 which serve asupper. edges of the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls 11 and 12.The bight'portion 45 of the arch 42 is disposed transversely across thecontainer 10 and 'above the beater means 24. Generally the arch member42 serves as transverse support for the manure box. The manner ofconnection of the arch 42 to the upper edges of the side walls isgenerally shown and described in US. Patent No. 2,702,711 issued to W.F. H. Furcell.

Viewing FIGS. 3 and 4, the general method of mounting a front wallextension 50 is shown. There is a false front 51 provided at the forwardend of the material container 10 and is inclined rearwardly anddownwardly from the front wall 14 so as to provide a compartment foroperating mechanism, not shown, between the front wall 14 and theinclined wall 51. As may be seen, the front wall extension 50 includestherein a generally upright panel 52 flared rearwardly at opposite ends,as at 53, 54, to form corners on the extension. The rearward extendingportions 53, 54 are terminated by transversely extending flanges 55, 56respectively. Upper edges 57 of the panel 52 are rolled into a tube in amanner similar to that of the upper edges 41, 42 of the side walls so asto provide transverse rigidity to the front extension 50. On the upperedge of opposite corners of the front wall extension 50, there areprovided rigid corner elements 58, 59 of cast material. The corners 58,59 are provided with transversely extending reduced ends, which aretelescoped into and are detachably connected to the upper rolled edge 57of the front wall extension by means of pins 60, and are also providedwith longitudinally or rearwardly projecting reduced portions 61, 62which, as will later be explained, are received into similar upperrolled edge portions of side wall extensions. Also provided as part ofthe front wall extension are vertically spaced hinge brackets 63, 64which serve as portions of a hinge. As may be clearly seen in FIG. 4,the front panel 50 is initially mounted on the inclined front wall 51 bymeans of a metal strap 65, which overlies the lower edge of the centraltransverse panel 52 and extends downwardly as a lip over the panel 51and is bolted at 66 to tighten thereto, as at 66 against panel 52. Itshould be recognized, that the strap 65 and its associated bolts are notthe primary mounting means for the front panel 52, but serve only as theinitial step in mounting the extensions on the manure spreadercontainer. As will later become apparent, the front panel extension 50is further held rigidly on the container through its inter-connectionswith the other extensions.

Positioned above the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls is a pair ofrear side wall extensions 70, 71 respectively. As may be seen from FIGS.68, the rear side wall extensions 70, 71 have vertical forwardly facingflanges 72, 73. Adjacent to the flanges 72, 73 are hinge brackets 74,75. The rear side wall extensions 70, 71 have upper edges provided withreenforcing tubular members 76, 77 bolted, as at 78, 79, to the upperedges. The sections 70, 71 extend upwardly above the level of the beatermeans and the bight portion 45 of arch 42. The loWer edges of theextensions 70, 71 are flanged inwardly as at 80, 81 (FIG. 7) to overliethe upper edges of the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls 11, 12.Bolts 82. 83 rigidly secure the flanges 80, 81 to the rear portions 22,23. Also provided for attaching the side wall extensions 70, 71 to thecontainer 10 are bolts, as at 84 (FIG. which secure the extensions 70,71 to the leg portions 43, 44 of the arch.42. Therefore, the arch 42serves as transverse support between the rear side wall extensions 70,71.

Extending between the rear side extensions 70, 71 and the front wallextension 50 is a pair of longitudinally extending sidewall extensions90, 91. The side wall extensions 90, 91 are substantially identical,and-consequently description shall be limited to the left side wallextension 91. The wall extension 91 includes therein an elongated panel92 which has at opposite ends thereof angle iron members 93, 94, one legof the angle iron members 93, 94 serving as flanges which normally lieadjacent to the flanges 56, 73 of the front panel 50 and rear side wallpanel 71. The angle iron members 93, 94 are also provided with outwardlyextending hinge brackets 95, 96 which operate complementary to the hingebrackets 64, 75 respectively. The upper upper edge of the panel 92 isrolled into a tubular roll 97 and due to its shape is effective toprovide longitudinal rigidity to the panel 92. Longitudinally spacedapart brackets 98 project downwardly from the lower edge of the panel 92and operate as lower support for the side wall extension 91. Thespecific nature of the connection is shown in FIG. 11. Specifically, thelower portion 92a of the panel 92 is flanged inwardly to fit. over thetubular upper edge 41 of the side wall 12. Bolted to the outer face, asat 99 is bracket structure 100 which supports a longitudinally extendingpivot pin 101 directly beneath the tubular edge 41. The lower end of thebracket 98 is hook-shaped, as at 102, and normally fits behind the pin101. The hook end 102 and pin 101 operate on interlocking meanseffective to connect the extension when the extension is verticallydisposed and to disconnect the extension when it is swung to a laterallydisposed position.

At the upper rear end of the wall extension 91 is a pipe extension 105telescopingly or slidingly mounted in the tubular portion 97 of thepanel 92. A longitudinal slot 106 is provided to receive the shankportion of a lock bolt 107 which is fixedly connected to the pipe 105.Viewing FIG. 12, it becomes apparent that by loosening the bolt 107, thepipe may be moved longitudinally of the tubular portions 97 and mayeither extend flush with the rear edge of the panel 92 or may extendrearwardly therefrom.

In mounting the wall extensions on the container for the materialunloader, the front wall extension .50 is first mounted on the container10 by means of the bolts 66. The rear side wall extensions 70, 71 arethen mounted on the rear portions 22, 23 of the side walls 11, 12 bymeans of the bolts 82, 83 and 84. The hooked ends 102 of the brackets 98are positioned behind the pivot pins 101 and the side walls 90, 91 areswung upwardly, as indicated in FIG. 6, to a substantially verticalposition. In the latter position the hinge brackets 95, 96 will be invertical alinement with the hinge brackets 64, 75 respectively andsuitable hinge pins may be dropped through the alined brackets so as tolock the side wall extension 91 into its vertical position. The pipe 105is moved rearwardly internally of the tubular upper edge 77 of the rearside wall extension 71 and the lock bolt tightened down to lock the pipe105 in the latter position. Prior to inserting the pins in the alinedhinge brackets 64, 95 the forward extension 50 may be held forwardly topermit the rearwardly or extending portions 61, 62 of the cornerextensions 58, 59

- to be inserted into the forward ends of the tubular upper edges of theside wall extensions 90, 91. After the hinge pins are inserted in thealined hinge brackets 64, the extension 62 will be held Within thetubular portion 97 and transverse rigidity will be afforded to the sidewall extensions 90, 91 through the tubular upper edge 57 of the frontwall extension 50. Viewing the extension structure as a whole,longitudinal rigidity is afforded by the upper tubular edges of the Wallextensions 70, 71. Transverse or cross rigidity is also afforded to theextension by means of the arch 42 as well as by means of the tubularupper edge of the front wall extension 50.

Mounted on the arch 42 between the side Wall extensions 70, 71 andextending generally between the bight portion 45 of the arch and theupper beater section is transverse panel 110. The panel 110 is supportedon the bight portion 45 by means of hanger brackets 111, 112

which are fixed to the rear face of the panel 110 and have hook portionsat their upper ends which hook over the bight portion 45. Extendingforwardly from opposite edges of the panel 110 is a second pair ofhanger brackets 113, 114 having their free ends formed into a hook whichhook over the inclined leg portions 43, 44. Also, mounted on the rearsurface of the panel 110 and on opposite end portions thereof are a pairof spring loaded latch members 115, 116 which have outwardly extendingbolt portions 117, 118 respectively biased to an outer position normallyrearward and against the rear of the leg portions 43, 44. The latches115, 116 obviously lock the panel 110 into position. However, forpurposes of removing the panel 110, the bolts 117, 118 may be withdrawnto clear the leg portions 43, 44 and the panel 110 may easily be removedfrom the arch 42.

On the rear of the material unloader is covering plate means comprisingan upper transverse panel 120. The panel 120 follows the contour of theupper tubular edges 76, 77 and is bolted as at 121, 122 to the tubularmembers 76, 77. The covering means also includes a lower panel 125,hinged at 126 to the lower edge of the upper panel 120. The panel 125may be raised for either clearing material from the beaters or forgeneral inspection of the beater area. A series of bolt and nutcombinations 127 are provided to hold the lower end of the panel 125 inits covering position. Viewing the rear end side panels 70, 71 and thecovering panels 120 and 125, the entire group of panels and adjacentside wall extensions may be treated as hood means over the beaters 24.

Positioned in the space between the widespread and the beaters 24 is avertically disposed transverse panel 130. The upper edge of the panel130 is adjacent and proximate to the lower edge of the covering panel125 and operates as a continuation of the hood means at the rear of thematerial unloader. A transverse reenforcing beam 131 has verticalfore-and-aft flanges, as at 132, which fasten to the side walls 22, 23for support of the panel 130. The lower edge of the panel 120 is boltedas at 133 to the rear face of a transverse rail or guide 135. The rail135 extends across the underside of the side portions 22, 23 justrearwardly of the lower beater section of the beater means 24. The rail135 is provided with a forwardly extending transverse and laterallydisposed flange 136 which is bolted at opposite ends, as at 137 toinwardly extending flanges of the rear side wall portions 22, 23. Therail portion 138 is provided at the lower edge of the rail member 135and is formed by a forwardly extending rigid flange having an upwardlyextending lip at its forward end. The bolts 133 also serve as supportfor a forwardly flaring covering panel 139, which flares forwardly fromthe forward face of the web portion of the rail 135 and operates as acover for the lower rail portion 138.

Spaced forwardly from the rear transverse rail 135 is a forwardtransverse rail or guide 145 which is positioned adjacent and beneaththe rear end of the floor conveyor 30. The rail 145 is connected tolower flanges of the rear side walls 22, 23 by means of upwardyextending integral leg brackets 146, 147 which are flared forwardly, asat 148 to lie adjacent to the aforesaid lower flanges. Bolts, as at 149rigidly connect the rail 145 to the side walls 22, 23. The transverserail 145 is formed to provide a transverse opening through which thereturn or lower run of the chain conveyor -may move.

The lower edge of the rail member 145 has a rearwardly extending flangewith an upwardly extending lip at its rear edge which forms the railportion 150 on which the roller of a conveyor, later to be explained,may roll. Extending to the left and fixed to the forward face of therail 145 is a stud 151 threaded at its-outer end. It should here benoted that all portions of the rails 135, 145 as well as the reartransverse panel 130 which divides the heaters 24 and widespread 25 areall detachably connected by bolts and may be easily removed from theoriginal spreader or may be attached with similar case. Consequently,the rails and panels may be considered as an attachment to aconventional type spreader.

A transverse conveyor, indicated in its entirety by the referencenumeral 160 is provided at the rear end of the material unloader andincludes therein an inner upwardly opening trough portion 161 and anouter transverse elevator portion 162. At the extreme right end of thetrough portion 161 are wheels or rollers 163, 164 which are spacedlyfore-and-aft on opposite fore-and-aft extending wall portions 165, 166of the transverse trough portion 161. As may be seen in several of thedrawings, the rollers 163, 164 are spaced fore-and-aft and vertically onthe order of the rails 145, and operate to roll along lower railportions 150, 138 respectively. The trough portion 161 is furthercharacterized by having a floor panel 167 and a floor conveyor 168 whichwill move the material from right to left relative to the materialunloader. The trough portion 161 has a right end panel 169 for closingthat end of the trough. The floor conveyor 168 is of the chain typebeing mounted over sprockets supported on transverse shafts 170, 171.

The elevator or dis-charge portion 162 of the conveyor may be consideredas a left-hand outer extension of the trough portion 161. The portion162 is pivotally connected for vertical movement with the forwardportion 161 on the aforesaid shaft 171. The portion 162' also includestherein a pair of front and rear wall panels 175, 176 and a floor panel177 interconnecting the lower portions of the side panels and enclosesfrom underneath the outer sections of the floor conveyor 168. The outeror left hand end of the floor conveyor 168 is supported on sprocketsrotated by a shaft 179. Suitable shielding 180 covers a chain drive 181which extends between the shaft 171 and shaft 179.

The sections 161, 162 of the transverse conveyor 60 are pivotallyconnected, as previously mentioned, at adjacent ends by means of thecommon shaft 171. The outer section 162 may be adjusted verticallyrelative to the inner section 161 and maybe held between or in its up ordown position, the up position being when the outer section 162 issubstantially vertical and adjacent to the side walls of the materialunloader and the down position being that in which it is substantiallyhorizontal. The sections 161, 162. are connected by means of links 190,191 on the front and rear panels 175, 176 respectively. As may be seenin FIG. 17, the link is pivotally connected at its lower end to abracket 192 which is rigid with and depends from the side panel 175 ofthe outer conveyer section 162. The upper end of the link 190 isconnected to the upper and outer end of a chain guide 195. A bolt 193extends through the link 190 and guide and operates to maintain tautnessin the chain conveyor regardless of the position of the outer section162. An arcuate slot 194 is provided to permit a vertical adjustment ofthe outer section relative to the trough section 161. A similar type ofadjustable arrangement is provided on the rear panel 176 relative to thebracket member 191. However, details of claim guides are omitted sinceit is not regarded as a pertinent part of the present invention.

Depending from opposite lower edges of the rear portions 22, 23 of theside panels 11, 12 are a pair of vertically disposed panels 200, 201,both being connected to the portions 22, 23 by means of bolts asindicated at 202. The right panel 200 is. positioned to complement theend panel 169 on the trough portion 161 of the conveyor and when theconveyor is in operative position to effectively close the right side ofthe material unloader from discharging. The left panel 201' is ofconsiderably heavier gauge and has mounted thereon a pair of guide lugs203 which extend outwardly and to the left of the panel 201'. The panel201 is further provided with a threaded lug 204 which also extendsoutwardly and to the left of the panel. An inverted U-shaped framemember 210-having depending leg portions 211, 212 welded or otherwisefixed to the side panels 165, 166 is disposed 7 adjacent the outer endof the trough portion 161. The frame 210 has a vertically disposed bightor plate portion 213 having openings 214 which receive, as will later beexplained, the guide lugs 203 on the plate portion 201. The bight 213also has an opening 215 for receiving the threaded lug portion 204.Extending forwardly from the leg portion 211 is an ear bracket 216 whichhas an opening 217 for receiving the stud 151.

Viewing FIGS. 10, 13, 14, and 17, it becomes apparent that the conveyor160 may be mounted on the rear of the manure spreader by inserting therollers 163, 164 on the left end of the rails 135, 150. The positioningof the rollers 163, 164 may easily be accomplished by balancing theconveyor 160 about its center point or juncture between the sections161, 162 and by applying force to the hand rail 220 on the outer end ofthe outer section 162. The conveyor 160 may then be raised to insert therollers 163, 164 substantially as shown in FIG. 13. Again by applyingforce on the rail 220 so as to balance itself upon the rollers 163, 164the rollers may then be moved to the right on their respective tracks138, 150 so that the trough portion 161 extends under and opens upwardlyto the inside of the box. The end panel 169, as previously mentioned,will abut against the panel 200 on the right side of the spreader. Also,the plate portion 213 will be positioned adjacent to the plate panel 201and as clearly shown in FIG. 17, the outwardly extending guide lugs 203will fit into the openings 214 and the threaded lug 204 will fit throughits complementary opening 215 in the plate portion 213. The ear bracket216 will fit over the stud 151. A pair of hand locking nuts 221, 222 areprovided for the studs 204, 151 respectively and serves to detachablyfix the conveyor onto the material unloading box.

Provision for operating the transverse conveyor mechanism is made by adrive receiving power from the power take-off shaft of a tractor. Auniversal type joint 230 is provided at the forward end of the implementand above the clevis member 21. The joint 230 is adapted for connectionto a tractor power take-off shaft and is also connected to a rearwardlyextending and telescoping type of drive shaft covered by a safety shield231. At the rear end of the latter drive shaft there is a seconduniversal joint, not shown, which drives a fore-and-aft extending driveshaft supported basically from the tongue member 20 by means of upwardlyextending brackets 232, 233. Again, safety shielding 234 preventsviewing of this drive shaft. From the rear end of the latter drive shaftthere is provided a chain drive 235, covered by its safety shielding237, extending to the left side of the material unloader and driving anelongated fore-and-aft disposed shaft 236. The shaft 236 is adjacent theside 12 of the manure spreader and extends from the forward portion ofthe spreader to the rear portion. The shaft 236 is also coveredthroughout .its length by a' safety shield 238. The shaft 236 extendsinto a gear transmission box 239 and drives a transverse drive shaft 240on which the lower beater means 24 is mounted. On the right end of thebeater drive shaft 240 is mounted a sprocket 241. The sprocket 241drives the upper beaters by means of a chain drive 242 which effectsrotation of an upper beater drive shaft 243. There is normally provideda sprocket, not shown, but located on a widespread drive shaft 245 whichalso receives its power from the lower beater drive shaft 240. Since thespreader has been converted to a forage unloading unit, as shown in FIG.3, the sprocket and its associated chain for the widespread drive shaft245 does not appear. However, when the conversion unit is removed and itis desired to operate the material unloader as a spreader, the sprocketand chain may be replaced on the shaft 245 and the spreader operates ina conventional manner.

Again viewing FIG. 3, there is provided at the forward end of thespreader a control lever 250 which operates through suitable linkages,not shown but contained within the hollow support 251 and behind thefront wall panel 14, a push rod 252 controlling the drive for the floorconveyor. The drive for the floor conveyor for present purposes is notimportant other than to recognize the basic feature that the floorconveyor operates to move material rearwardly to the beaters. However, afull description of the manner of operation as Well as its associatedcontrol linkage and lever is shown and described in detail in US. Patent2,804,308 and if more detail is desired such may be had by reference tothat patent. A detailed description of the operation and mechanism forcontrolling the spreader is shown and described in U.S. Patent2,894,411.

Power from the shaft 236 also operates to drive the transverse conveyor1611. Referring particularly to FIGS. 13-17, mounted on the rear end ofthe shaft 236 is a coupling element 260, the forward end of which has asprocket 261 rigid therewith. A hearing support 262 is provided at therear of the coupler and journals a foreand-aft extending shaft 263 whichextends through the gear transmission 239, a similar bearing 264 beingprovided rearwardly of the transmission. Supported on the rear portion23 of the side wall is a rigid housing structure 270 which has avertically disposed structural plate portion 271 supporting a series ofstub shafts 272, 273, and 274. The method of mounting the shafts on theplate portion 270 is shown in FIG. 17. However, it should be recognizedthat the exact type of mounting used is of no importance for purposes ofthis invention other than to recognize that sprockets 278, 279, and 280mounted thereon are permitted relatively free rotation. Extending in afore-and-aft direction is an integral end plate 275 of the housingstructure 270 having a flange turned inwardly at its rear edge. Avertically disposed closure plate 276 is bolted at 277, to the flangeand i provided with means for supporting the rear end of the stubshafts272-274. Mounted ovre the sprockets 261, 278-280 is a chain 281. Thesprockets 278 and 280 serve as idler sprockets for providing a reversedrive in the chain for driving sprocket 279 which is fixed to its shaft273. Supported in depending relation from the enclosure portion 275 bybolts 285 is a bracket 282 which has an integral rearwardly extendingstub shaft portion 283 supporting an idler sprocket 284. A pinionsprocket 290 is mounted externally of the plate panel 276 and on theshaft 273. A driven sprocket 291 is carried on the shaft 171 of thetransverse conveyor 160. A drive chain 293 is provided for the sprockets284, 290, and 291, the idler sprocket 284 operating as a takeup sprocketfor the drive.

The shaft 171 has a second sprocket 295 fixed thereto as part of thechain drive 181 which extends outwardly to the discharge end of theconveyor portion of the conveyor 162. The shaft 179 operates as thedrive shaft for the flight conveyor 168.

It should be recognized that the entire drive mechanism for the reartransverse conveyor is supported basically on the housing structure 270which in turn is detachably connected to the side of the manure spreaderby means of bolts such as at 296. Therefore, by merely removing thebolts 296 and breaking a link of the chain 281, the entire drive may beremoved from the material unloader or spreader. Also, the coupler 260may obviously be replaced with a coupler not having the sprocket end 261thereon. A bracket 297 and other similar types of structure supportingthe housing 270 is provided, but they may also be detached from thespreader by removing their connecting bolts.

The material unloader here described may be operated as a conventionalmanure spreader, as is shown in FIG. 1. However, when converting it to aforage unloader the following steps are taken. The wall extensions arefirst added to the upper edges of the spreader box in a mannerpreviously described. The panels 130 and are positioned in the box withthe associated hood so as to prevent material from being thrownrearwardly and indiscriminantly from the material unloader. The rails135, 145 are bolted to the rear end of the spreader so as to positionthe transverse conveyor adjacent the discharge end of the floor conveyor30. The rollers 163, 164 are inserted on the rail portions 138, 150 andthe trough portion 161 of the cross conveyor is then driven under thedischarge end of the spreader somewhat in the manner of opening orclosing a drawer. The hand nuts are then mounted over the respectivestud bolts 151, 204 so as to lock the cross conveyor in its operativeposition. At this time the housing structure 270 with all its associatedsprockets and drive mechanism, if not already mounted on the side of thespreader box, is fixed to the side and the various sprocket drives areconnected so as to drive the fioor conveyor 168 on the rear transverseconveyor. Thus, in a few momentsa conventional type manure spreader maybe converted to a forage unloader or conversely, the forage unloader maybe converted into the spreader.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should berecognized that other forms and variations may occur to those skilled inthe art without their departing basically from the broad generalprinciples disclosed herein. Therefore it should be understood that thepresent description and disclosure was given for the purposes of clearlyand concisely illustrating the principles of the invention and there isno intention to so limit or narrow the invention beyond the broadgeneral scope as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material containerhaving front and rear ends, said rear end being open for the dischargeof material therethrough, said container including a floor, oppositelydisposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upperlongitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a relatively lowforward portion and comparatively high rear portion, said rear portionextending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor, andafront wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portionsfor closingthe front of the container; a transverse widespread supportedat opposite ends by the respective rear portions of the side walls;transverse beater means spacedly forward of and adjacent the widespreadand supported by the side walls; an arch member having depending legsmounted on the respective rear portions of the side walls and atransverse bight portion extending over the beater means; a floorconveyor for moving material rearwardly through the open end of thecontainer; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edgesadapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side wallsand having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to theside extensions; a vertically disposed front wall extension having itslower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the front walland an upper structural edge effective to give transverse rigidity tothe extension; means rigidly but detachably connecting opposite ends ofthe front wall extension to the forward ends of the respective side wallextensions; means rigidly but detachably connecting the side wallextensions to opposite depending legs of the arch member,

said front wall, extension and said arch thereby affording transversesupport for the side wall extensions; a transverse and verticallydisposed panel extending between and adapted for connection to opposedfaces of the rear portions of the side walls and positioned between thewidespread and the heaters and having a lower edge thereof spaced fromand forming with the rear edge of the floor a transverse forming withthe rear edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot throughwhich material may be discharged; a covering panel overlying the beatermeans and extending between the upper edges of the side wall extensionsand having a rear portion connected to the aforesaid transverse paneland-a forward edge spaced from the forward end of the container; a platemember adapted for mounting on the arch extending from the under face ofthe covering panel and having a lower edge adjacent and proximate thebeaters for blocking material from moving forwardly over the beatermeans; a pair of transverse rails; means mounting the rails on thecontainer fore-and-aft respectively of the transverse slot; a tranverseconveyor including therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portionand a discharge portion; and roller means on the trough portionengageable with the rails and operative to permit transverse movement ofthe trough portion into and out of material-receiving position relativeto the discharge slot.

' 2. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material containerhaving front and rear ends, said container including a floor, oppositelydisposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upperlongitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a rear portionextending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floor, and afront wall having an upper edge extending between the side wall portionsfor closing the front of the container; transverse beater meanssupported at the rear end of the container by the side walls; transversespreading mechanism supported by the rear portions of the side wallrearwardly of the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving materialrearwardly through the container; vertically disposed side wallextensions having lower edges adapted for connection to the respectiveupper edges of the side walls and having upper structural edgeseffecting longitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a verticallydisposed front wall extension having its lower edge adapted forconnection to the upper edge of the front wall and an upper structuraledge effective to give transversely rigidity to the extension; meansrigidity but detachably connecting opposite ends of the front wallextension to the forward ends of the respective side wall extensions,said front wall extension thereby affording transverse support for theside wall extensions; hood means overlying the beater means andextending downwardly between the beater means and spreading mechanism,the hood means being detachably supported on the side wall rear portionsand blocking material from being discharged by the beater means andhaving a rear terminal edge forming a rear discharge opening with therear edge of the floor; a pair of transverse rails; means mounting therails on the container fore-and-aft respectively of the dischargeopening; a transverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardlyopening trough portion and an outer discharge portion; and roller meanson the trough portion engageable with the rails and operative to permittransverse movement of the trough portion into and out ofmaterial-receiving position relative to the discharge opening.

3. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material containerhaving front and rear ends, said container including a floor, oppositelydisposed side walls extending upwardly from the fioor, each of the sidewalls having a rear portion extending rearwardly beyond the rearterminal edge of the floor, and a front wall extending between the sidewall portions for closing the front of the container; transverse beatermeans supported at the rear end of the container by the side walls;transverse spreading mechanism supported by the rear portion of the sideWall rearwardly of the beater means; conveyor means for moving materialrearwardly through the container; hood means overlying the beater meansand extending downwardly between the beater means and spreadingmechanism, the hood means being detachably supported on the side wallrear portions and blocking material from being discharged by the beatermeans and having a rear terminal edge forming a rear discharge openingwith the rear edge of the floor; a pair of transverse rails; meansmounting the rails on the container spacedly foreand-aft and adjacent ofthe discharge opening; a transverse conveyor includingtherein atransverse upwardly 11 opening trough portion and an outer dischargeportion; and roller means on the trough engageable with the rails andoperative to permit transverse movement of the trough portion into andout of material-receiving position relative to the discharge opening.

4. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material containerhaving front and rear ends, said rear end being open for the dischargeof material therethrough,

said container including a floor and oppositely disposed side wallsextending upwardly from the floor, each of the side walls having a rearportion extending rearwardly beyond the rear terminal edge of the floorand a front wall having an upper edge extending between the side wallportions for closing the front of the container; transverse beater meansat the open end of the container supported by the side walls; a spreadermechanism supported on the side walls rearward of the beater meanstransverse and vertically disposed plate means extending between andadapted for connection to opposed faces of the rear portions of the sidewalls rearward of the beater means and forward of the spreader mechanismand having a lower terminal edge spaced from and forming'with the rearedge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through whichmaterial may be discharged; a pair of transverse rails; means mountingthe rails adjacent the rear edge of the floor and lower edge of thepanel respectively; a transverse conveyor including a transverseupwardly opening trough portion discharging outwardly at one end andformed of a pair of fore-and-aft spaced upright transverse panels and anupright end panel at the opposite end; and roller means on the troughportion engageable with the rails operative to permit transversemovement of the trough portion into or out of materialreceiving positionrelative to the discharge slot whereby the upright end panel andtransverse panels are effective to close said discharge slot except forthe discharge opening of the trough.

5. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material containerhaving front and rear ends, one end being open for the discharge ofmaterial therethrough, said container including a floor and oppositelydisposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor, each of the sidewalls having a portion extending longitudinally beyond the adjacentterminal edge of the floor; transverse beater means at the open end ofthe container supported by the side walls; a spreader mechanismsupported on the side walls rearward of the beater means transverse andvertically disposed plate means extending between and adapted forconnection to opposed faces of the extending portions of the side wallsand positioned between the beater means and spreader mechanism andhaving a lower terminal edge spaced from and forming with the adjacentedge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slot through whichmaterial may be discharged; transverse guide means; means mounting theguide means on the container adjacent the discharge slot; a transverseconveyor including a transverse upwardly opening trough portiondischarging outwardly at one end and formed of a pair of fore-an-aftspaced upright transverse panels and an upright end panel at theopposite end; and means on the trough portion engageable with the guidemeans operative to permit transverse movement of the trough portion intoor out of material-receiving position relative to the discharge slotwhereby the upright end panel and transverse panels are effective toclose said discharge slot except for the discharge opening of thetrough.

6. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a mate rial containerhaving front and rear ends, said rear end being open for the dischargeof material therethrough, said body including a floor and oppositelydisposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having uperlongitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a relatively lowforward portion and a comparatively high 'rear portion, said rearportions extending rearwardly be- 12 yond the rear terminal edge of thefioor, and a front wall having an upper edge extending between the sidewall portions for closing the front of the container; a transversewidespread supported at opposite ends by the respective rear portions ofthe side walls; transverse beater means spacedly forward of thewidespread and supported by the rear portions of the side walls; an archmember having depending legs mounted on the respective rear portions ofthe side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over the beatermeans; a floor conveyor for moving material rearwardly through the openend of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions havinglower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of theside walls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinalrigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed front wallextension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edgeof the front wall and an upper structural edge effective to givetransverse rigidity to the extension; means rigidly but detachablyconnecting opposite ends of the front wall extension to the forward endof the respective side wall extensions; means rigidly connecting theside wall extensions to opposite depending legs of the arch member, saidfront wall extension and said arch thereby aflording transverse supportfor the side wall extensions; a trans verse and vertically disposedpanel extending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces ofthe rear portions of the side walls and positioned between thewidespread and the beater means and having a lower edge thereof spacedfrom and forming with the rear edge of the floor a transverse downwardlyopening slots through which material may be discharged; a covering paneloverlying the heaters and extending between the upper edges of the sidewall extensions and having a rear portion connected to the aforesaidtransverse panel and a forward edge spaced from the forward end of thecontainer and forming with the aforesaid transverse panel and side wallextensions a hood overlying the beater means; a plate member adapted formounting on the arch extending from the under face of the covering paneland having a lower edge adjacent and proximate the beater means forblocking material from moving forwardly by the beater means; atransverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardly openingtrough portion and a discharge portion; and means mounting the troughportion on the container eifective to permit transverse movement of thetrough portion into or out of material-receiving position relative tothe. discharge slot.

7. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material containerhaving front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the dischargeof material therethrough, said container including a floor andoppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor andhaving upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a portionextending longitudinally beyond the edge of the floor, and an end wallhaving an upper edge extending between the side wall portions forclosing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported atopposite ends by the respective extending portions of the side walls;transverse beater means spacedly inward of the widespread and supportedby the side walls; an arch member having depending legs mounted on therespective side walls and a transverse bight portion extending over thebeater means; a floor conveyor for moving material through the open endof the container; vertically disposed side wall extensions having loweredges adapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the sidewalls and having upper structural edges effecting longitudinal rigidityto the side extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension havingits lower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the end walland an upper structural edge effective to give transverse rigidity tothe extension; means rigidly but detachably connecting connecting theside wall extensions to opposite depending legs of the arch member, saidend wall extension and said arch thereby affording transverse supportfor the side wall extensions; a transverse and vertically disposed panelextending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of theextending portions of the side walls and positioned between thewidespread and the beater means and having a lower edge thereof spacedfrom and forming with the aforesaid edge of the floor a transversedownwardly opening slot through which material may be discharged; acovering panel overlying the beaters and extending between the upperedges of the side wall extensions and having a portion connected to theaforesaid transverse panel and a forward edge spaced from the end wallof the container and forming with the aforesaid transverse panel andside wall extensions a hood overlying the beater means; a plate memberadapted for mounting on the arch extending from the under face of thecovering panel and having a lower edge adjacent and proximate the beatermeans for blocking material from moving over the beater means; atransverse conveyor including therein a transverse upwardly openingtrough portion and a discharge portion; and means mounting the troughportion on the container effective to permit transverse movement of thetrough portion into or out of material-receiving position relative tothe discharge slot.

8. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material containerhaving front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the dischargeof material therethrough, said container including a floor, andoppositely disposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor andhaving upper longitudinal edges, each of the side walls having a portionextending longitudinally beyond the edge of the floor, and an end wallhaving an upper edge extending between the side wall portions forclosing the front of the container; a transverse widespread supported atopposite ends by the respective extending portions of the side wallstransverse beater means supported by the side walls adjacent to andforward of the widespread; an arch member having depending legs mountedon the respective side walls and a transverse bight portion extendingover the beater means; a floor conveyor for moving material through theopen end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensionshaving lower edges adapted for connection to the respective upper edgesof the side walls and having upper structural edges effectinglongitudinal rigidity to the side extensions; a vertically disposed endwall extension having its lower edge adapted for connection to the upperedge of the end wall and an upper structural edge effective to givetransverse rigidity to the extension; means rigidly but detachablyconnecting opposite ends of the end wall extension to the forward endsof the respective side wall extensions; means rigidly connecting theside wall extensions to opposite depending legs of the arch member, saidend wall extension and said arch thereby affording transverse supportfor the side wall extensions; a transverse and vertically disposed panelextending between and adapted for connection to opposed faces of theextending portions and positioned between the beater means andwidespread and having a lower edge thereof spaced from and forming withthe aforesaid edge of the floor a transverse downwardly opening slotthrough which material may be discharged; a covering panel overlying theheaters and extending between the upper edges of the side Wallextensions and having a portion connected to the aforesaid transversepanel and a forward edge spaced from the end wall of the container andforming with the aforesaid transverse panel and side wall extensions ahood overlying the beater means; a transverse conveyor including thereina transverse upwardly opening trough portion; and means detachablymounting the trough portion on the container in a material-receivingposition relative to the discharge slot.

9. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material containerhaving front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the dischargeof material therethrough, said container including a floor, oppositelydisposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upperlongitudinal edges, and an end wall having an upper edge extendingbetween the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; atransverse widespread supported at opposite ends by the respective sidewalls adjacecnt the open end of the container transverse beater meanssupported by the side walls adjacent to and inwardly of the widespread;a floor conveyor for moving material through the open end of thecontainer; vertically disposed side wall extensions having lower edgesadapted for connection to the respective upper edges of the side wallsand having upper tubular edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to theside extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having itslower edge adapted for connection to the upper edge of the end wall andan upper tubular edge effective to give transverse rigidity to theextension and having opposite ends adjacent to ends of the respectiveside wall extensions; rigid corner elements having transversely andlongitudinally extending portions for telescoping with the ends of thetubular upper edges of the end wall extension and side wall extensionsrespectively; means detachably connecting the corner elements to the endand side wall extensions, said end wall extension and said side wallextensions thereby afiording transverse and longitudinal support for oneanother; hood means at the open end of the container detachablyconnected to the container between the widespread and beater means andhaving a portion thereof overlying the beater means for preventingdischarge by the beater means and further having a lower transverseterminal edge spaced from the edge of the floor at the open end of thecontainer to form therewith a discharge opening; a transverse conveyorincluding therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portion; andmeans detachably mounting the trough portion on the container in amaterial-receiving position relative to the discharge opening.

10. A material-distributing vehicle comprising: a material containerhaving front and rear ends, one of the ends being open for the dischargeof material therethrough, said container including a floor, oppositelydisposed side walls extending upwardly from the floor and having upperlongitudinal edges, and an end wall having an upper edge extendingbetween the side wall portions for closing the front of the container; aspreading device supported by the side walls at the open end of thecontainer transverse beater means supported by the side walls inwardlyof the spreading device; a floor conveyor for moving material throughthe open end of the container; vertically disposed side wall extensionshaving lower edges adjacent the respective upper edges of the side wallsand having upper tubular edges effecting longitudinal rigidity to theside extensions; a vertically disposed end wall extension having a loweredge adjacent the upper edge of the end wall and an upper tubular edgeeffective to give transverse rigidity to the extension and havingopposite ends adjacent to ends of the respective side wall extensions;interlocking means between the upper edges of the walls and lower edgesor" the extensions effective to connect the extensions and walls uponthe extensions being disposed vertically and disconnect the same uponthe extensions being moved to laterally disposed positions; rigid cornerelements having transversely and longitudinally extending portions fortelescoping with the ends of the tubular upper edges of the end wallextension and side wall extensions respectively; means detachablyconnecting the corner elements to the end and side wall extensions, saidend wall extension and said side wall extensions thereby affordingtransverse and longitudinal support for one another; hood means at theopen end of the container detachably connected to the container betweenthe spreading device and beater means and overlying the beater means forpreventing discharge by the beater means and having a lower transverseterminal edge spaced from the edge of the floor at the open end of thecontainer to form therewith a discharge opening; a transverse conveyorincluding therein a transverse upwardly opening trough portion; andmeans detachably mounting the trough portion on the container in amaterial-receiving position relative to the discharge opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS DudleyAug. 25, 1914 Wikert Sept. 17, 1935 Mengel Aug. 14, 1951 Overman Sept.2, 1952 Templeton Sept. 22, 1953 Wolfe Apr. 20, 1954 Purcell Feb. 22,1955

